Come and meet Geoff, Jeanette and Johanna as well as our regular attendees for our monthly get-togethers held on the first Thursday of the month at Jacaranda Room Grand Central Shopping Centre, Margaret Street Toowoomba, at 5.30pm with light refreshments provided at no charge.

We provide a place for:

• support and encouragement  
• learning and understanding who we are and what we are about from professional guest speakers
• improving quality of life for both consumers and carers
• latest information on mental health research and treatments
• social interaction activities with other groups
• sharing your stories from both a consumer and carer perspective
• getting involved in the Breaking Free Concert, Schizophrenia Awareness Week and Mental Health Week displays and activities
• preparing for camps

SFQ Darling Downs and South Western Region branch supported the Breaking Free Concert held on Friday 27 July 2007 at the City Golf Club Toowoomba. The Breaking Free Concert was designed to provide a safe place for people with mental illness to be entertained or be a performer. The entertainment was of a high quality with professional and amateur performances by mental health staff, consumers and carers which made the evening one to be remembered. Displays were also on show from many community support groups in Toowoomba and were well patronised by all present. This was the fifth year of the concert, with close to three hundred people attending to see some outstanding performances by musicians, dances and singers. Organiser for the event was Mike Burge, Toowoomba Consumer Consult and member of our branch.     

SFQ Darling Downs and South Western Region Branch’s next venture is to promote a musical competition which is being held during Mental Health Week in October. The competition is designed to help break down the stigma and barriers in the community and promote a community informed about mental illness. As well as the musical competition there will be displays and the opportunity to meet face to face with community groups in the area.
For more information on how to get involved call the Fellowship on (07) 3358 4424.

Geoff Brabrook FSIA RSP

Chair